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Los Angeles County officials are set to vote Tuesday on whether to declare a local state of emergency aimed at assisting residents facing financial hardship amid ongoing federal immigration raids.

If approved, the declaration would allow the LA County Board of Supervisors to provide rent relief to tenants affected by the crackdown and access state funds for legal aid and related services. The county plans to launch an online application portal for aid within two months. The move could also lay the groundwork for a local eviction moratorium, though that would require a separate vote.

Background

Since June, the Los Angeles area has been a hotspot for the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement, which has included National Guard and Marine deployments. Federal agents have conducted raids targeting undocumented immigrants at locations such as Home Depots, car washes, bus stops, and farms, with some US citizens reportedly detained.

Officials’ Stance

Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Janice Hahn argued that the raids have caused widespread fear and instability.

“They are targeting families, disrupting classrooms, silencing workers, and forcing people to choose between staying safe and staying housed,” Horvath said. “Declaring an emergency is how we fight back.”

The five-member board voted 4-1 last week to place the declaration on Tuesday’s agenda. The lone dissenting vote came from Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who said the raids did not meet emergency criteria and expressed concern about potential impacts on landlords.

Landlord Concerns

Daniel Yukelson, CEO of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, said housing providers remain affected by COVID-era eviction freezes and rent caps, which resulted in billions in lost revenue.

“While landlords are sympathetic to tenants affected by ICE activities, we are not aware of anyone unable to pay rent due to enforcement,” Yukelson said. “Allowing deferred payments again could further strain affordable housing in our community.”